In 18th century London, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. A lot of knowledge is deadly.
When ambitious apprentice chemist and secret alchemist Peter Woulfe is tasked with caring for a mysterious illustrated book, the Mutus Liber, he quickly realises that the grimy underworld of Georgian London is even more dangerous than he first believed.
Soon the book is stolen by the light-fingered Sukie and Peter finds himself being pursued by threatening men who are willing to do anything to get the book back. Where in teeming London might Sukie be found? Why is Peter so enthralled by her? And what is it about the Mutus Liber that is so enticing? As the search for the book becomes an urgent game of cat and mouse, it seems that the key to Peter’s present dilemma might only be found in half-remembered events from his childhood, and then further back still, in the mists of Irish myth.
A spell-binding and unputdownable tale about spirit and matter, love and lust, and reality and magic.
My Review:
A historical fiction set in an intriguing historical time frame: the first half of XVIII century. The main character, Peter Woulfe, is one of the last alchemists and is tasked with an illustrated book, the Mutus Liber. It seems an easy task but if you go intro the Georgian London underground something will happen, like being robbed of your book.
It’s the start of an adventure that involves Peter, a man divided between magical and rational thinking, into the search for the book and an intriguing woman. There’s myth, there’re historical facts and the re’s a lot going on.
It’s a bit slow at the beginning introducing Peter and his world and it becomes fast paced after some chapters.
I’m fascinated by books about alchemists and the illustrated book is an added bonus.
I enjoyed it and appreciated the well-rounded characters and the vivid historical background. There’s twist and there’s a lot of surprises.
4.5 upped to 5
Many thanks to Eriu Books and Compulsive Readers for this digital copy, all opinions are mine.
Leeanne O’ Donnell was born in Dublin and now lives in an old farmhouse on the foothills of a mountain in the remote south west of Ireland. She feeds her cats, dogs, chickens, daughters and wife reasonably regularly – and occasionally waters her poly-tunnel. She has yet to learn to write a proper shopping list but has managed to finish her first novel while hiding in an old caravan in the garden.
SPARKS OF BRIGHT MATTER was inspired by the magic of the mountain where she lives and the whispers of the ancient stories buried in the surrounding landscape. She is interested in all the big questions like what it means to be alive, and which crisps go best with a pint of Murphy’s stout. In SPARKS OF BRIGHT MATTER she explores the liminal spaces between magic and reality, spirit and matter, love and lust.
She started her storytelling career working in radio with RTE and BBC – and has made a number of award winning documentaries for RTE’s Doc on One series. Notably THE LADIES OF LLANGOLLEN about two Irish aristocrats who ran away together in the 18th century and DIVING AND FALLING about dancer and artist Lucia Joyce. She is also a trained psychotherapist and is frequently awed by the sacred work of helping people to understand and transform their own real-life stories
Sparks of Bright Matter by Leeanne O’Donnell is published by Eriu (Bonnier Books UK) in hb, ebook and audiobook on 11st April.
Scrapping&Playing 